Brigham Young @ Boise State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2015 ) Boise State 24, Brigham Young 35

Brigham Young used a miracle ending to defeat Boise State last season and the Cougars are looking to post their fourth straight win of the current campaign when they visit the No. 14 Broncos on Thursday. Boise State was one defensive stop from taking last year's encounter when BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum threw a 35-yard, fourth-down pass to Mitchell Juergens to give the Cougars a four-point lead with 45 seconds left and safety Kai Nacua added an interception return for a 35-24 victory.

The Broncos covet a victory over the Cougars to improve their odds of landing a Cotton Bowl bid as the top team from a non-power conference. Last season's comeback by BYU furthered the growing rivalry between the schools located about 380 miles apart who are in the midst of a 12-game series that runs through 2023. "They are a tough opponent and we are going to have to play our best," Cougars coach Kalani Sitake said at a press conference. "We look forward to playing our best and see if we can get it done up there." Boise State senior receiver Thomas Sperbeck needs just 34 receiving yards to supplant Titus Young (3,063 from 2007-10) as the school's all-time leader.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Boise State -7

ABOUT BYU (4-3): Senior quarterback Taysom Hill threw three touchdown passes in Friday's 28-21 double-overtime victory over Mississippi State and has accounted for 13 touchdowns (nine passing, four rushing) this season. Senior running back Jamaal Williams (3,468) became the school's all-time rushing list in the Mississippi State contest - surpassing Harvey Unga (3,455 from 2006-09) - and has rushed for 942 yards (second-most nationally) and 10 touchdowns this season. Nacua, a senior, is tied for the national lead with five interceptions and has 13 in his career while sophomore linebacker Francis Bernard (48 tackles) racked up a career-best 16 tackles against the Bulldogs.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (6-0): Junior running back Jeremy McNichols carried 40 times for a career-best 217 yards - the second 200-yard game of his career - in Saturday's 28-23 victory over Colorado State and has scored 14 touchdowns (11 rushing, three receiving). Sophomore quarterback Brett Rypien leads the Mountain West with 1,622 yards and 12 touchdown passes and has built a solid rapport with Sperbeck, who has 38 receptions (six for touchdowns) to go with a Mountain West-leading 701 receiving yards. Senior defensive end Sam McCaskill has emerged as a force and leads the Mountain West with 9.5 tackles for loss, and his five sacks are second on the team behind sophomore nose tackle David Moa (5.5).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Boise State has won four of the previous six meetings.

2. Cougars sophomore MLB Butch Pau'u (knee) is questionable -- and is tied with junior OLB Fred Warner for the team leadership in tackles (51).

3. Broncos junior WR Cedrick Wilson (ankle) should be close to full health after playing just one offensive snap against Colorado State - eight days after catching three touchdown passes in a win over New Mexico.

PREDICTION: Boise State 31, BYU 27